Gaston College Review 2024-25: Softball get first NJCAA ranking, set history with school's best record

After a World Series appearance in its first season of eligibility and a season in which it won a second straight Region 10 regular season title and earned mention in the National Junior College Athletic Association poll, some might think Gaston College's four-year-old softball program would have a hard time trying to duplicate or exceed those successes.

Guess again.

Not only did the Rhinos return to the World Series, they were a title contender with a fourth-place national finish and set school and region records in the process.

"Looking back, there's so much to be proud of," Gaston College coach Mike Steuerwald said. "Some of the things our offense did this year is really going to be hard to match or even come close to in the coming years.
"They were just a phenomenal group to work with throughout the season."

That they were as the Rhinos finished 63-5 overall that included a 29-game winning streak, a 22-0 regular season record against Region 10 Division I competition and a 3-2 record in the World Series.

All are school records and the 63 wins tied Louisburg's 2023 team for the all-time Region 10 record, the third-place national finish was the best since Spartanburg Methodist in 1994 and the 22-0 league record was the first unbeaten finish since 2016.

Sophomores Alayna Patrick and Kristyn Ezzo were Region 10 player and pitcher of the year, respectively, with sophomores Skye Harrington, Grace Kealy, Sarah Johnson and Kendall Bradshaw and freshmen Savanna Mullins and Mary Hinson were All-Region 10 selections.

Bradshaw, Kealy and Patrick finished 1-2-3 all-time in career hits with Kealy, Harrington and Patrick 1-2-3 in career home runs, Kealy, Patrick and Harrington 1-2-3 in career RBIs and Bradshaw tied for first in career stolen bases.

On the mound, sophomore Abigail Brewton and Ezzo finished 1-2 in career pitching victories.